Vehicle Headlight LED Matrix with Single Shared Optics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle headlight systems require multiple LED arrays and optical units to generate various light functions, increasing complexity and reducing efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A headlight design utilizing a single group of LED light sources with a shared optics unit to generate primary light functions, supplemented by additional single LED chips for secondary functions, such as high beam, reducing the number of rows and enhancing reliability and yield.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple LED arrays and optical units are used to generate various light functions, then the versatility of light distribution is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight function versatilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single LED array is designed to perform multiple light functions (low beam, high beam, cornering light, freeway light) by selectively activating different LED light sources within the array, eliminating the need for separate LED arrays for each function and thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining versatility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic control of individual LED light sources within the array, allowing the system to reconfigure light distribution patterns on-demand for different driving conditions, enabling one static hardware structure to deliver multiple dynamic light functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple LED arrays and optical units are used to generate various light functions, then the light function versatility is improved, but the manufacturing yield and reliability decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight function versatilityVSAvoidsystem reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By designing a single LED array to serve multiple light functions simultaneously, the patent reduces the total number of optical units and LED arrays required, thereby improving manufacturing yield and system reliability through fewer components while maintaining the ability to generate diverse light distributions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple LED arrays and optical units are used to generate various light functions, then the light distribution capability is improved, but the manufacturing effort increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight distribution capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a universal LED array structure with selectively controllable LED light sources that can generate multiple light distributions (low beam, high beam, cornering, freeway) without requiring separate optical units for each function, significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and effort while maintaining full light distribution capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design simplifies the headlight system by reducing the number of LED sources and optical units, allowing for efficient generation of multiple light functions while maintaining high reliability and yield, with selectively controlled LED sources creating specific distributions like freeway and cornering light functions.

Implementation Method 1

A first optics unit 7 is positioned in front of the LED field 5 in the direction of light emission 6, so that when at least a part of the group of LED light sources 3 arranged on the LED field 5 is activated, a first light bundle A for imaging a number of light spots 8 in a central Vehicle apron 9 is radiated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP2217851B1Vehicle headlights
Publication Date: 2019.03.27 HELLA GMBH & CO KGAA
  • EP2217851B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a headlight for vehicles, comprising a plurality of LED light sources and at least one optical unit, a group of LED light sources being formed by an LED field with a plurality of LED light sources that are combined in the form of a matrix on a common substrate and an optical unit is located in front of the LED field. The invention is characterised in that the LED field co-operates with a first optical unit in such a way that a first light function is generated and that a single additional LED chip, with which an additional optical unit is associated, is provided to generate a second light function.